Press Room

New York State Senator Thomas Duane has invited PHR to testify at a public forum designed to address accusations of medical professionals’ participation in torture and “enhanced interrogation” as well as to analyze the potential impacts and implementation of proposed legislative responses.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) today welcomed the decision by Bahrain’s Attorney General to hold civilian trials for 20 doctors who were sentenced last week as alleged backers of anti-government protests. While an important step towards achieving justice for the doctors, PHR is still troubled by allegations the medics were tortured while they were in detention.

PHR will urge the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support “An Act to Prohibit the Participation of Health Care Professionals in the Torture and Abusive Treatment of Prisoners H.3361,” which would make clear that Massachusetts-licensed health care professionals who participate in acts of torture and ill treatment should be subject to professional sanctions.

Kristine Huskey has joined PHR as Director of the Anti-Torture Program. In this role, Huskey will be responsible for leading PHR’s investigations and reporting on the devastating consequences of torture on individuals, institutions, and society.